Khan wasn’t detained, say US authorities

A day after actor Shah Rukh Khan was detained at an airport in the US, immigration authorities in New York denied that he was formally held or that he was singled out because of his name or Asian identity.

The allegations “happen to be incorrect”, US Customs and Border Protection spokesman Elmer Camacho said, adding Khan was inspected because his baggage had not arrived.

Part of the inspection process is to examine the baggage. However, his bags were not available due to the airline not loading them on the flight he arrived on, the spokesman said.

That was why the inspection took longer, the airline could not provide his bags for inspection.

“His documents and papers were checked, which were found to be in correct order,” Camacho said.

After a “normal” check at the airport, Khan was taken to a different room where he was waiting for his turn since many other people were already there.

“The entire process ended in a little over one hour,” the spokesman said.

The procedure, he said, was handled in a “professional manner” and there was no evidence of Khan being pointed out because of his name or Asian identity.

The 43-year-old actor was detained and questioned at Newark airport and was let off at the intervention of Indian Consulate officials.